Sump Plumbing

[shaynasmith]

Hey,
Picked up some equipment to plumb in a sump to a non-drilled 75 gallon tank and was hoping to get some feedback on the design as this is my first time doing it.

The overflow is a HOB Eshoppe dual overflow with 1” bulkheads (I’ve ordered replacements). Here’s the plan:
-hardline in 3 inches of 1” PVC on each bulkhead, utilized a 1” barbs and fit 1” hoses (washing machine style) with hose clamps down to the sump
-looking at the sump I’m getting would I run the hoses into the two rear tube chambers and clamp them in place so they overflow into the three filter socks? Or are these chambers for something else?
-from there I have a bubble Magnus elite 7 skimmer for the first chamber and a HOB media reactor for carbon/gfo.
-leave the space between the baffles empty to reduce and bubbles
-I have an HOB refugium that could feed into the second chamber and potentially install another baffle to create another chamber that would house live rock and pods
-the last chamber would be for the fluval S4 return pump. Run a 1” hard return line with a 1” swing true check valve (how far up?) and then a 1” spears gate valve (how far after the check?) to control GPH to match overflow. I’ve heard mixed reviews on check valves but unsure how to solve the syphon break issue with this overflow box?
-the return line would need to also be a mix of hard line coming out of the sump with the valves and then hose up to the displays U-tube.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[00W]

Hey,
Picked up some equipment to plumb in a sump to a non-drilled 75 gallon tank and was hoping to get some feedback on the design as this is my first time doing it.

The overflow is a HOB Eshoppe dual overflow with 1” bulkheads (I’ve ordered replacements). Here’s the plan:
-hardline in 3 inches of 1” PVC on each bulkhead, utilized a 1” barbs and fit 1” hoses (washing machine style) with hose clamps down to the sump
-looking at the sump I’m getting would I run the hoses into the two rear tube chambers and clamp them in place so they overflow into the three filter socks? Or are these chambers for something else?
-from there I have a bubble Magnus elite 7 skimmer for the first chamber and a HOB media reactor for carbon/gfo.
-leave the space between the baffles empty to reduce and bubbles
-I have an HOB refugium that could feed into the second chamber and potentially install another baffle to create another chamber that would house live rock and pods
-the last chamber would be for the fluval S4 return pump. Run a 1” hard return line with a 1” swing true check valve (how far up?) and then a 1” spears gate valve (how far after the check?) to control GPH to match overflow. I’ve heard mixed reviews on check valves but unsure how to solve the syphon break issue with this overflow box?
-the return line would need to also be a mix of hard line coming out of the sump with the valves and then hose up to the displays U-tube.

Thanks in advance for your input!

I ran the same box on my 75.
Looks like the 800 or 1200 series.
If you want you can plug one side and only use one out.
The tubes sit in the middle chamber together.
If you want to use 2 fine. Just a lot of plumbing and for a 75, you won't need 1200 gallons an hour going through.
The biggest problem with these boxes is they really need to be run at high volume.
They're really intended for bigger tanks.
Doesn't mean you can't use it.
To the contrary you can just make sure you've got adequate flow.
As far as a check valve, just use pvc for your return and drill a hole in it right at the water line. There's your check valve.
I just use vinyl tubing and exit right at the water line.
Honestly I'd ditch the return pump and get a jebao or another dc pump.
No need for a gate valve that way just adjust and go.
Instead I'd install the gate valve on the overflow line to the sump.
Dial it down to deal with the overflow noise.
As far as how you have your chambers set up, that sounds good and you're on your way.
Hope that helps.
Hit me up with any more questions.
Joel

 

[shaynasmith]

I ran the same box on my 75.
Looks like the 800 or 1200 series.
If you want you can plug one side and only use one out.
The tubes sit in the middle chamber together.
If you want to use 2 fine. Just a lot of plumbing and for a 75, you won't need 1200 gallons an hour going through.
The biggest problem with these boxes is they really need to be run at high volume.
They're really intended for bigger tanks.
Doesn't mean you can't use it.
To the contrary you can just make sure you've got adequate flow.
As far as a check valve, just use pvc for your return and drill a hole in it right at the water line. There's your check valve.
I just use vinyl tubing and exit right at the water line.
Honestly I'd ditch the return pump and get a jebao or another dc pump.
No need for a gate valve that way just adjust and go.
Instead I'd install the gate valve on the overflow line to the sump.
Dial it down to deal with the overflow noise.
As far as how you have your chambers set up, that sounds good and you're on your way.
Hope that helps.
Hit me up with any more questions.
Joel

Hey Joel,
Thank so much for the reply! I think I will block off one of the overflow bulkheads and just run one.
Did you PVC down the whole way from overflow to sump? Do i run it down so it fills one of those tube chambers in the back and then that flows over into the other chamber and filter socks?
Do you recommended unions on either side of the gate valve or anywhere else along the way?
What GPH do you recommend for a DC pump? and should I run 3/4 line from the return as the overflow will be 1"?
Do you have a picture you could share of your setup?

 

[00W]

No worries I love to help.
Your sump is a cool design so yes, down into the tubes up and into the socks.
You can use one sock and when it overflows it can go to the other. That's cool.
Looks like that entire setup was for a much larger tank so you are lucky and have a lot of room.
So what people don't under is the flow of the box is not just dependent upon the size of the box but really the size of the U tube itself.
You'll notice it's pretty large, probably an inch.
I like your idea of 3/4 bulkheads and when you're ready I'll show you a good way to quiet them down.
I didn't pvc hard pipe any of mine.
I used vinyl tubing all the way around.
Much easier to move,clean, bend and not break and see how dirty too.
If you are going to pvc the whole thing then yes, unions are a must in case you want to disassemble and they're relatively cheap.
Just don't lose the o ring.
Been there, oops done that.
I ran a jebao 6500 at 75 percent on my 75.
More than enough and SILENT.
And cheap.
It's been going 4 to 5 years without an issue.
I upgraded to a 100 and am using it the same speed with the same box an eshopps pf300.
The jebao is nice because it comes with all adapters for vinyl or pvc fittings.
I'll try to get a pic when I get home but basically it just goes straight down to the sump.
I don't use socks/pads/mechanical filtration but that's where it goes the first chamber, then skimmer then fuge area then return area.
Give me a few and I'll send you a picture.

 

[00W]

Okay here's a bad picture of the overflow.
It's jammed back there.

Here's the sump.
Can't get much of a picture but hopefully you get the idea.

 

[shaynasmith]

Thank you for sending pics. How do you find the mangroves work? I had considered this in the second large chamber of the sump. Do you just plant them in substrate, provide a light, and feed somehow?

 

[00W]

Thank you for sending pics. How do you find the mangroves work? I had considered this in the second large chamber of the sump. Do you just plant them in substrate, provide a light, and feed somehow?

I've tried many different things.
Didn't have much success until I bought them as pods/seeds.
I just pushed them into a sand/Aragonite mix and they sprouted in about a week.
Light is a 5000k daylight bulb from home depot. 14 hours a day.
I'll add a 1/4 cup of magnesium every Monday.
Key I think is spraying them every day.

 

[shaynasmith]

Thanks for the info